It has been a year since I was elected Prime Minister. World Sports Congress chair during World Games in Berlin, Germany, in June 2023This incredible journey has been filled with opportunities to promote Special Olympics and be a voice for over 4 million athletes, advocate for inclusion and represent our community on the global stage.
Preparing for the World Games in Santiago
One of the standout moments was on March 24, when I had the honor of representing the Athlete Leadership as part of the SOI Evaluation Committee when conducting a site visit to 2027 World Summer Games in SantiagoChile. My role was to assess the level of participation of the athletes at each stage of their presentation. Working alongside my fellow sports leaders Alvaro BrocheroWe have highlighted the value of athletes’ voices to local and government officials, emphasizing the importance of athletes’ meaningful participation in the planning and execution of such important events.
Shared Hosting at Sport Accord
Sport Accord It presented another unique and influential opportunity, bringing together international sports federations. I was honoured to host the Diversity Forum, where I challenged the stereotype that athletes with disabilities are disabled. Intellectual disabilities I have emphasized the importance of youth voices and the need to learn from our valuable perspectives. In various meetings with Special Olympics and sports federation officials, I have challenged the inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities as a daily practice. I have seized every moment to promote Special Olympics, sharing daily updates on social media to amplify our message.
Keynote address at AIPS conference
One particularly interesting feature was a keynote address at International Sports Press Association At the IFAD Centenary Congress in Santa Susanna, Barcelona, I challenged the sports media to use their platforms to promote inclusion in sport and society. I urged them to cover more Special Olympics events and share our stories, emphasizing that we are ready to showcase our talents and celebrate our abilities. I also asked a provocative question: “Have you ever considered hiring someone with an intellectual disability? If not, why not?”
Visit to 10 Downing Street
One of the highlights of the year was the visit to the British Prime Minister’s residence in Downing Street. This visit provided an opportunity to ensure that the voice of athletes was central to the discussions around hosting a future World Games in Great Britain. The significance of this moment was not lost on me, as it underlined the growing recognition of the importance of athletes’ involvement at the highest levels of decision-making.
Sports Leadership Training in Washington DC
My journey also took me to Washington, DC, where I helped train and develop the skills of new Global Sports Leadership Council members and Sergeant Shriver Global MessengersI am running an event alongside. American bank Staff and attended the partnership renewal meeting with Bank of America employees and Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special OlympicsThese experiences have reinforced the importance of collaboration and teamwork required to achieve our mission.
As the conference chair, my goal is to encourage more women and girls to participate and stay connected in sports and leadership roles. I hope to achieve this by serving as a positive role model for women. Special Olympics is an athlete-led organization, and I am proud to be a testament to that.
